Method and means for composing relief printing plates



Sept. 27, 1938. w. C.'HUEBNER 2,131,323

METHOD AND MEANS F01? COMPOSING RELIEF PRINTING PLATES I 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 9, 1937 INVENTUR Willi mm l /uehrcr E W WBHNEY Sept. 27, 1938. w c HUEBNE 2,131,323-

METHOD AND MEANS. FOR COMPOSING RELIEF PRINTING PLATES Filed Aug. 9, 19:57 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTDR MAW/a) 6 he, 5% W ATTORNEY Sept. 27, 1938. w. c. HUEBNER METHOD AND MEANS FOR COMPOSING RELIEF PRINTING PLATES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 9, 1957 4 1NVENTE1R w h C M m IjY' ATTORNEY Sept. 27, 1938. w. c. HUEBNER METHOD AND MEANS FOR COMPO'SINGv RELIEF PRINTING PLATES Filed Aug. 9', 19:57

4 Sheets-She et 4 Mia A-r DHNEV" Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES METHOD AND MEANS FOR COLIPOSING RE- v I LIEF PRINTING PLATES William c. Huebner, New York, N. Y. Application August 9, 1937, Serial No. 158,088

3 Claims. (Cl.101401.1)

This invention relates to improvements in method and means for composing relief printing plates. Y

In the typographic printing art, one of the more recent developments is the use of rubber relief printing plates. Many practical considerations necessarily limit the size or work area of such rubber printing plates to only a fraction of the available area of cylinders of regular type presses. Other molded types of printing plates are also coming into use for oifset and typographic presses.

One object of this. invention, therefore, is to provide a simple and eflicient method of compos-- ing and imposing prepared relief printing plates, such as indicated in the preceding paragraph, in predetermined locations and positions on a suitable supporting press plate to thus constitute a large form which latter may then be mounted 20 in any suitable manner on the cylinders of typographic and other printingpresses for printing large editions.

Another object of this invention is to provide coordinated means for carrying out the foregoing process in a simple and expeditious manner.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following. 7

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a composing machine and associated parts suitable for carrying out the improved process and illustrating the manner in which a composed relief press plate is made according to the present invention. Figure 2 is a partial sectional view corresponding to the line 2-2 of Figure 1, illustrat ing the holder in open position in full lines and in vertical position in dotted lines, the press plate and support therefor being also indicated in dotted lines. Figure 3 is a plan view of a relief printing plate such as adapted to be mounted on a press plate in accordance with the present invention, Figure 4 is a sectional view of the printing plate shown in Figure 3 and corresponding to the section line 4-4 thereof. Figure 5 is a top plan view of a printing plate carrier showing the printing plate temporarily attached thereto in registered position. Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view, corresponding to the section line 6-6 of Figure 5. Figure '7 is an enlarged elevational view similar to Figure 1, illustrating more in detail the assembly of relief printing plate, carrier therefor, and vacuum holder. Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of the structure 'shown in Figure 7 and corresponding to the section line B-S'thereof. Figure 9 is a. top plan view of a registering table for registering the relief printing plate prior to temporary attachment thereof to the printing plate carrier. Figure 10 is a transverse. sectional view correspording to the section line ll-'-|ll of Figure 9. Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 9,

' illustrating a somewhat difierent embodiment of registering apparatus. Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 5, but illustrating a somewhat different type of carrier for the relief printing plate. Figure 13 is a sectional view corresponding to the section line I3-l3 of Figure 12. Figure 14 is a top plan view of assembly of carrier, printing plate and register table. I And Figure 15 is a transverse sectional view corresponding to the section line l5l5 of Figure 14.

In said drawings is illustrated a composing machine which may be of the type disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,021,959, granted November 26, 1935 and which, inassociation with certain other coordinated parts, hereinafter described in detail, is suitable for carrying out the improved composing process. Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, said composing machine comprises, broadly, a base or pedestal from which extends an upright column 2| which in turn carries upper and lower cross bars 22 and 23 to which are secured side guides or columns 24-24. The cross bars 22 and 23 connect the side columns and, in addition, .also constitute the supporting means for the press plate support 25, the latter preferably being in the form of a heavy slab of slate or equivalent of rectangular form and of sufficient area to accommodate the largest press plate 26 for which the composer is designed.- The press plate is adapted to be secured to the support as by screws 21 so as to lie flat and taut thereon.

Vertically slidably mounted on the columns 24 are cross heads 28-28 in which is horizontally slidably mounted for a limited distance, a beam or monorail 29. A cross shaft is also journaled at its ends in the cross heads 25. The monorail 29 is adapted to be adjusted vertically by the shaft 30 which carries pinions 3| cooperable with racks 32 mounted on the faces of the columns 24.

On each of the columns 24 is provided a vertically arranged series of dowel holes 33 accurately spaced apart at predetermined intervals, preferably one inch center to center, and associated with one of the series of dowel holes 33 willpreferably be provided a scale as indicated at 34. The adjusted vertical position of the monorail with reference tothe main framework may be conveniently ascertained by means of a sight hole 35 provided in the cover plate of the right hand cross head 28, as shown in Figure 1. To positively retain the cross heads and monorail in desired vertical coarsely adjusted position, as determined by the dowel holes 33, dowel pins 36 are provided, carried by the cross heads andadapted to be inserted in the respective dowel holes 33, as will be apparent.

To provide for the necessary relatively coarse adjustments of the holder, hereinafter described more in detail. the monorail 23 has slidably 'suitable register .marks, as indicated at 55 and" 55 to locate the exact center lines vertically andmounted thereon a saddle 31 adapted to be shifted horizontally backand forth by suitable pinion and rack arrangement through the crank handle '38. Said-saddle is also adapted to be retained in coarse adjusted position bya similar dowel hole and dowel pin arrangement 39 and 40.

The fine or micrometer horizontal-adjustments of the saddle 31' are obtained bymeans ofthe screw 4| swiveled to the right hand cross head 28 and having threaded engagement through the nut section 42 at the outer end of the beam 29,

said screw 4| being operated by the crank handle 43 and the amount being determined by the graduatedhial- 44 carried by the screw 4|.. A

similar arrangement for obtaining'the fine or micrometer vertical adjustments of the holder crank arm 45, graduated .dial 45 andscrew 41.. 1

carried by the saddle 31 is obtained through the For a-more detailed descripttion of the construction andoperation of the parts of the composer so far referred to,reference may v my said prior Patent No.- 2,021,959.

Referring now to Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6, indicates conventionally. a prepared reliefprinting plate which, may be of rubber or other plastic composition, or,-in certain instances, an electro* type with a composition or rubber backing. The printing plate 50, as shown, hasa surrounding relief margin 5| and relief characters. or images as represented by thefcross' flbar 52, and "I" formation 53, it being apparenttfrom Figure 4. that 7 the back or nonrelief side of the plate is per- -fectly flat asindicated at 54. In the preparation ofthe printing plate 50 in the carrying out of the present invention, the same will be provided with horizontally in a manner customaryin photo composing and lithographing;

The member '51 is what may termed acarrier for the relief printing plate and the same preferably consists of a metal or otherrectangular frame with a central openingover which is stretched and 'secured a preferably flexible.

..film;59. The carrierfrarne 58'is' provid edwi-th registering devices preferably in' the formof dowel holes 5ll'5ll"on opposite sides thereof whichare coordinated with other registering devices, hereinafter described. The carrier m'ember 51 is also provided with a spacing element 11 1 around the periphery thereof. Such spacing-element 11 will be ofa. thickness corresponding to the-thickness of the :printing plate 5.0 intendedto be. used with the carrier. Said spacing element 11; preferably is of yieldable material so as to be somewhat compressible ,and may be permanently aflixed to'the frame 58 as shown in Figure 6 or of adetaehable characteras. hereinafter described, To enable the air 'to.be exhausted from- V beneath the carrier 51 when engaged withzthe press plate, as hereinafter described, the spac ing element 11 may. have one or more gro'ov'es: I11 cut'in the face thereof at different places, as

shownin Figure5.

liland 11, 'GIindicates a support orregistering table preferably comprising a suitable metal frame-52 with a glass top 53-extending over thelarge central opening of the support. Said-support is also provided wtih cooperablefregistering devicesilr the form of dowel pins 54.64 on opposite sides thereof and which are adapted to be- .75' 'vided with. one orm'ore vacuum line connections entered into ,thedowel holes 5|! of the carrier frame 58. To further facilitate-the carrying-out of the invention, the support 5| is preferably probe had to" v Referring nowmore particularly: to 9,:

55 thro the area thereof.

Cooperable with the support 5| is a registering frame; of which two forms are shown inFigures 9 and 11,'respectively. The registeringframe 55 of the Figure 9 construction is more or less in the glass support 53 in the central form of a cross with the four armsthereof ex-.

tending at right angles to each other, the two horizontally extending arms 5151 being pro.- vided with registering dowel openings 58- 5 co- In the'Figure 11 form of registering frame 12,

two bars, at'ri ht angles to each otherare employed,formed with straight edges 13 and 14 extending at exactly right anglesto each other horizontally andvertically and so located that their point of intersection is also at the exact center of the register support 5|. The horizontally extending arms of the register frame 12 are also provided wit dowel holes 15-15 cooperable with the dowel p s 54 of the register support.

lief printing "plate to the carrier 51 in predetermined position and location and to this end, the following procedure is followed. The printing plate 50 isiflrst laid on the register shpport 5| with the relief side of the printing plate upper-- The first stepin carrying out the process of the. present invention, isthe securing of the remost, as shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11, and also A in Figure-15. The registering frame, such as .55

or .12, is then superposed on the register support 5| in.-registered positionby means of the dowel holesand dowel pins. The operator then. ad-

justs-the relief printing plate 55 so as to bring the register marks 55 and 55 thereof'exactly in alinement with the register linesorregister edges of the register frame-55hr 12, as the case may be, thus accurately positioning and centering the printing plate with reference totheregister dowel pins and corresponding dowel holes. With'the printing plate'ifl thus in registered position, vacuum isapplied through the pipes 55, I thus securely holding the printing plate fastto the top of the register-support 5|. The register frame .55 or 12 is then removed and the carrier 51 then placedon the register support by engageing the dowelpins and dowel openings 0f saidi.

securedfito the carrier film 59. One way of conveniently .doing this, isto employ rubber strips 15 which willflrst be lightly cemented to the print-- ing plate agtsuitablepoints therearound and preferably outside of the margin, as shown in Figure 15. After the printing'plate 55 has been registered and held' downby the application of jvacuum, another'light coating of cement may then be applied to the upper exposed surfaces of,

the rubber strips 15 so that, when: the-carrier is superposed on the printing plate, the him 59 of the carrier'can berpressedidownand thus cemented to the printing plate.-' V ;With the printing plate 59" thus temporarily secured to the carrier '51 the latter is then re- 3 moved from the register s pport and mounted mia canier holder 13 which preferablyfcon members, the carrier being positioned with its fllm59 at, the bottom, as shownin Figure 15. Thereli ef printing'plate 50 is then temporarily sists of a rectangular metal frame having a large central opening 19, the frame being preferably of right angular cross section, as best shown in Figure 8. Said carrier holder 18 is also provided with cooperable registering devices in the form of dowel pins 88-88 on opposite sides thereof so that, when the carrier is positioned in the holder 18, the carrier will occupy a predetermined position and location with respect thereto. As will be understood, the carrier 51 is placed in the carrier holder 18 with the back or flat side of the printing plate outermost, that is, in a position for the back of the printing plate to face the press plate'26. As best shown in Figure 8, the carrier holder 18 is provided with two air sealing gaskets therearound, one as indicated at 8| and the other as indicated at 82, the former being adapted to 'engage with the press plate 28 and the gasket 82 forming an air seal with the carrier 51.

The carrier holder 18 is detachably secured to the saddle 31 of the composer preferably by .means of another set of dowel pins and dowel holes as indicated at 83-83 and securing screws 84-84 on an adaptor 85 which in turn is pivotally connected to the saddle as by the pintles 86-86. As will thus be apparent, the carrier holder 18 occupies a predetermined position and location with reference to the saddle of the composer machine and hence its position can always definitely be ascertained with reference to the two travel lines of the composer machine and with reference to the press plate secured thereto.

By means of the pivoted mounting of the carrier holder with reference to the saddle, the carrier holder 18 may be swung down to a horizontal position as indicated at I18 in Figure 2 and the carrier 51 with its temporarily attached printing plate 58 placed therein, as will be understood. With the carrier mounted in the carrier holder, the latter is then swung up to vertical position, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2 opposite the press plate 28, in which condition a slight clearance is left between the press plate and holder so as to allow of the necessary horizontal and vertical adjustments of the saddle and holder without injury to either the press plate or printing plate. When the saddle,

' carrying the printing plate 58 as hereinbefore described, has been adjusted over the face of the press plate 26 to the desired position and location as called for by a layout sheet, theprinting plate is then moved horizontally into intimate contact with'the press plate 26 by adjusting the subsaddle I31 through the rack and pinion 81, 88, as shown in Figure 2. Prior to placing the relief printing plate 58 into contact with the press plate 26, the back or flat side of theprinting plate 58 will have a layer of cement applied thereto. When the printing plate 58 is thus placed in contact with the press plate 26, pressure is applied preferably by means of vacuum through the vacuum line 89 entered through the carrier holder 18 and the cement between the relief plate 58 and the press plate allowed to set which, under the vacuum pressure requiresonly a few minutes. When the relief plate has been permanently secured to the press plate, the.

lesser area than the area defined by the sealing gasket 8| of the carrier holder 18 or is of appreciable lesser area than that of the film to which attached, a detachable gap-bridging member is preferably employed such as indicated at 88 in Figures 7 and 8, in lieu of the spacing element "heretofore referred to and shown in Figures and 6. Said gap-bridging member 98 will be of suitable size and form to approximately fill the gap between theedges of the printing plate and the sealinggasket 8|, to thereby prevent indentation of the press plate when the vacuum pressure is applied. The member 88 is preferably retained in position on the carrier 51 by an auxiliary set of dowels and dowel holes as indicated at I9l. The member 98 is also preferably provided with shallow'grooves 9l-9l at suitable intervals therearound on that face which engages the press plate so as to permit exhaustion-of the air when the vacuum is applied.

Referring to Figures 12 and 13, a modified form of carrier for the relief printing plate is there shown, the same comprising an outer metal rectangular frame 82 with a glass support 93 extending over the central opening, the glass plate being used in lieu of the film 58 of the previously described form. Said carrier 82 will be provided with registering dowel openings 84-94 corresponding to the dowel openings ,68 of the first described carrier and cooperating .in the same manner with the register support and carrier holder, as will be-understood.

In carrying out'the process in actual practice, a layout for the press plateto be composed, is

first made, which layout will have indicated thereon the exact positions and locations of the several relief printing plates to be mounted thereon, whether the printing plates are all of like character as illustrated in Figure 1 or of different character. the printing plates being arranged head up, head right, head left or head down, depending upon the particular job to be printed. Each relief printing plate is mounted in a carrier in the position called for by the layout and registered in the carrierand temporarily secured there to, as hereinbefore described. The printing plates in their carriers are then successively placed in the composer machine, adjusted to theposition and location called for by thelayout and then permanently secured to the press plate,

as previously described. It will thus be seen that a composed relief press plate may be made up with any desired combination and arrange- The layout may call for ment of individual relief plates and the thus composed press plate mounted on a cylinder of ther-be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other than rubber relief printing plates may be composed on a press plate without departing from the spirit of the invention. Also, while one particular type of composer machine has been described, other types might be employed, provided the essential features are present, of relative movement between the press plate and printing plate carrier in two lines at right angles to each other and having the necessary registering features. All changes and modifications are contemplated that come within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. The herein described process of preparing a composed relief press plate which includes: preparing a relief printing plate temporarily securing the prepared relief printing plate to a carrier with the relief side of the printlng'plate against the carrier; then placing the back side of the relief printing plate, while still temporarily secured to the carrier, in contact with a press 4 plate and permanently securing the relief printing, plate to the press plate; and then removing the carrier from the relief printing plate to leave the relief surface thereof available for inking and printing when the press plate is in a press.

2. The herein described processof preparing a composed relief press plate which includes; temporarily securing the relief side of a prepared relief printing plate to a carrier in predetermined position and location on the carrier, then positioning the carrier in predeterminedp'osition and location with reference to a press plate and with the back side of the relief printing plate opposed to 'the press plate; then permanently securing the back side of'the relief printing plate to the press plate while so positioned with reference'thereto;

and thenremoving the carrier from the relief side of the-relief printing plate.

- 3. The hereindescribed process of preparing a composed relief press plate in accordance with a layout, which includes: temporarily securingeach prepared relief printing plate to a carrier in pre-- determined position and location thereon in accordance with the layout and with the relief side of the printing plate against the carrier; position-.

ing each carrier, while the printing plate is temporarily secured thereto, in predetermined position and location with reference to a press plate and in accordance with the layout for the particular printing plate, the carrier being positioned thereon;- then positioning the carrier in predetermined position and location with reference to a press plate and with the rubber. backing of the printing. plate opposite the press plate; cementing the rubber backing of the printing plate to the press plate while so positioned by the carrier; and then destroying the temporary attachment between the -printing plate and carrier and removing the carrier from the relief side of the.

printing plate.

. 5. The herein described process of preparing a composed relief press plate which includes: temporarily securing the relief side of a prepared relief printing plate to a carrier in predetermined position and location thereon; then positioning the carrier in predetermined position and location with reference to a press plate and with the back side of the relief printing plate opposed to the press plate;v applying'pressure between the print-' ing plate and the press plate and, while under pressure, securing the printing plate to the press plate; and finally removing the carrier from the relief side of the printing plate.

6. The herein described process ofpreparing a composed relief press plate which includes; taking a prepared -relief printing plate and register- 'ing the same in and temporarily securing to a carrier'with the relief side of the printing plate against the carrier; placing thecarrier with the printing plate thereon in. registered position and location in -a vacuum holder; securing a press plate. in a composing machine; placingthe vacuumholder with the carrier in the composing machine and then positioning the holder to predetermined location; applying vacuum pressure between the holder and the press plate and securing the back side'of the relief plate to the press plate; and. then disengaging-the carrier from the relief plate.

7. The herein described process of preparing a relief press plate having composed thereon a plurality of relief printing plates, which includes: securing a plain press plate in taut condition;

. registering each of the relief printing plates in a carrier and temporarily securing each printing plate to its respective carrier with the relief side of the printing plate against the carrier; positioning each of the carriers with its printing plate temporarily secured thereto, opposite the press plate in a predetermined location with reference to the press plate; permanently securing the back side of each of the relief printing plates to the press plate while so positioned by its corresponding carrier; and removing each carrierfrom its printing plate when the latter is secured to the press plate.

8. The herein described coordinated apparatus for preparing a composed relief press plate from a plurality of separate relief printing plates, comprising: a register device; a carrier to which a relief plate is adapted to, be temporarily attached; a carrier holder; a composer machine including a press plate holder, a support for said carrierholder, means for .relatively adjusting said support and press plate holder relatively to each other in two directions at right angles to each other in a plane parallel to the press plate, and means for r moving the support and press plate holder toward and from each other for contacting purposes; said register device and relief plate carrier, said relief plate carrier and the carrier holder, and said carrier holder and support, each'having cooperable sets of detachable interengageable registering means, all of said sets of registering means being coordinated with said two lines of movement at right angles to each other of the press plate holder and support whereby, a'relief press plate may be registered in and temporarily secured to said relief plate carrier, the latter then mounted in .register on the carrier holder, the assembly of relief printing plate, carrier and carrier holder then mounted in register on the carrier holder supportandthe relief press plate adjusted to predetermined position and location relative to the press plate and then permanently secured to the press plate.

' WILLIAM C. HUEBNER. 

